The Budget Office of the Federation’s observation that the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) failed to remit the sum of N165.3 billion operating surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), explains President Buhari’s reason for the suspension and order to probe Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman.
On the alert of the Budget Office of the Federation, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on March 4, communicated same to the President in a memo dated March 4, 2021.
Amaechi had in the memo also requested the approval of the President to carry out an audit of the Authority’s financial records for the period 2016 to 2020.
The Minister’s memo to the President emphasised a need for the audit to establish the true financial position and the outstanding unremitted balance of N165.3 billion.
The President’s approval, he added in the memo was necessary to account for the gross shortfall as discovered by the Budget office.
The President had in turn approved the request on March 17, and on May 6th, he approved the suspension of Usman with immediate effect.
Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu, in a statement, announced President Buhari’s appointment of the Executive Director, Administration with the NPA, Mohammed Koko, in acting capacity to replace Usman.
The President also approved that Hadiza Usman should face a Panel which will be constituted by the Ministry of Transport.
The Panel is scheduled to begin sitting on Monday.
